After lawyer is indicted in witness-interference case, client's trial is postponed

A West Virginia lawyer representing a police officer in a felony case has been criminally charged, along with an investigator, in an alleged conspiracy to interfere with a witness.

Attorney Paul J. Harris, who practices in Wheeling, and the private investigator, Franklin D. Streets Jr., were indicted by a grand jury on Friday in the Harrison County Circuit Court case, reports the Associated Press. Harris said in a written statement provided to the news agency that he will defend himself aggressively. The article doesn’t include any comment from Streets.

Meanwhile, the trial of Harris’ client, former Shinnston police officer Kevin B. Junkins Jr., has been postponed indefinitely. He is facing charges of embezzlement, burglary and drug possession related to alleged thefts from the Shinnston police department, according to the Exponent Telegram and WDTV.

A special prosecutor will be appointed by the court to handle the case after the Harrison County prosecutor stepped down.